Adjustable dress form system

ABSTRACT

A body form includes various reconfigurable portions that are adjusted to establish a preferred shape and/or size in order to achieve body feature(s) having a desired form. The preferred body form is constructed with adjustable bust and buttock portions. Each adjustable breast portion includes internally adjustable breast portions. Likewise, the buttock portion includes internally adjustable cheek portions. In this manner, a more universal and versatile body form is provided that can be readily altered depending on a desire/need of the fashion designer, clothing display personnel or the like.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/808,997, filed May 26, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to the art of dress forms and, more particularly, to a body form for creating and displaying clothing wherein the body form incorporates portions which are readily adjustable to establish a customized shape and/or size configuration.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Dress or body form mannequins are well known in the art and generally come in a wide range of sizes, shapes and styles. Dress forms are used by the fashion industry as a foundation to build a dress and by the retail industry as a means of displaying articles of clothing. Unfortunately, given the large array of sizes and shapes of the body forms, it is often times difficult to store enough body forms to accommodate a wide variety of body types. Even if one had the room to store a body form for each body type, the cost associated with that storage would be considerable.

In order to keep costs and inventory low, many clothing manufacturers and retail stores typically rely on generic body forms that represent a ranges of body sizes. Unfortunately, many items of clothing don't hang right if not placed on a body form having the proper body type. If the clothes don't look right when being designed or offered for sale, customers may not be attracted to make a purchase.

In order to accommodate a broader size range, manufacturers and retail stores generally have ways to adjust body form features. For instance, replaceable padding can be attached at various portions of the body form to enhance or change a particular feature. Other adjustable body forms employ dials to change various circumferential dimensions of the body forms. While forms of this type enable a wider range of sizes, they do not allow for changes in, for example, breast cup size or the size and shape of the buttocks.

It is considered that a need exists for an enhanced adjustable body form. More specifically, there is seen to exist a need for a body form having readily adjustable breast and buttocks portions so as to be easily reconfigured to replicate a desired form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a body or dress form having various reconfigurable portions that can be readily adjusted to establish a desired shape and/or size of a particular body feature(s). In one form of the invention, the body form is constructed with adjustable bust and buttock portions which are selectively reconfigurable to enable the body form to take on a wide range of desired sizes and/or shapes. In this manner, a more universal and versatile body form is provided that can be readily altered depending on a particular desire/need of the fashion designer, clothing display personnel or the like.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left rear prospective view of a body form including multiple adjustable body components constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the body form of FIG. 1 illustrating adjustable breast and buttocks sections;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an adjustable breast portion of the body form of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of an adjustable buttocks section of the body form mannequin of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hinge member employed in connection with the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an adjustment mechanism employed in connection with the adjustable body form of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE-PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a body or dress form mannequin constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated at 2. Body form 2 includes a main body 4 having a top or neck portion 6, a bottom or thigh portion 8, a breast section 10 having first and second breast portions 12 and 13, and a buttocks section 17 having first and second cheek portions 19 and 20. Body form 2 can be formed from any semi-rigid material known in the art that retains a desired shaped when covered by clothing and the like. In addition, body form 2 is provided with a frame member 28 that extends through main body 4 from top portion 6 to bottom portion 8. Frame member 28 preferably includes first and second cross members 30 and 31 that are positioned adjacent breast section 10 and buttocks section 17 respectively.

As noted above, body form 2 includes multiple adjustable body portions. Preferably, first and second breast portions 12 and 13 are adjustable in both size and shape. Likewise, first and second cheek portions 19 and 20 are adjustable in both size and shape. Towards that end, each breast portion 12, 13 includes a corresponding cover 60, 61 that selectively exposes a corresponding opening 64, 65. Each cover 60, 61 is preferably formed from a semi-rigid, yet flexible material that can be selectively shaped to a desired form and, as will be discussed more fully below, retain the established form when covered by clothes and the like. In the preferred embodiment shown, each cover 60, 61 is pivotally mounted to main body portion 4 through a corresponding hinge member 68, 69. As best shown in FIG. 3, cover 60 includes a flap portion 70 that extends into opening 64. Cover 61 includes a similar flap portion (not shown).

In accordance with the invention, each breast portion 12, 13 has associated therewith a corresponding interior adjuster mechanism 75, 76. Preferably, each adjuster mechanism 75, 76 is pivotally connected to cross member 30 and extends outward toward a respective opening 64, 65. As will be discussed more fully below, each adjuster mechanism 75, 76 includes a connector, such as shown at 78 in relation to adjuster mechanism 75, that is secured to a web or shaping member 80 provided on an inner surface (not separately labeled) of cover 60. As clearly shown, web member 80 engages cover 60 and performs multiple functions. More particularly, web member 80 translates extension and retraction movements of adjuster mechanism 75 to cover 80, while also aiding in establishing a desired shape of the central region (not separately labeled) of breast portion 12. To this end, the particular construction and shape of web member 80 can vary greatly in accordance with the invention, such as to satisfy a particular configuration of breast portion 12.

In a manner corresponding to that described above, buttocks is section 17 includes first and second covers 90 and 91 that extend across openings 94 and 95 provided on cheek portions 19 and 20 respectively. In a manner also corresponding to that described above, each cover 90, 91 is preferably formed from a semi-rigid, yet flexible material that can be selectively shaped to a desired form and, as will be discussed more fully below, retain the established form when covered by clothes and the like. Likewise, each cover 90, 91 includes a corresponding hinge member 98, 99 that pivotally mounts the flexible cover 90, 91 to main body portion 4. As best shown in FIG. 4, cover 90 also includes a flap portion 98 that extends into opening 94. Of course, cover 91 includes a similar flap portion (not shown).

In further accordance with the invention, each cheek portion 19, 20 includes a corresponding adjuster mechanism 104, 105. Preferably, each adjuster mechanism 104, 105 is pivotally connected to cross member 31 and extends outward toward openings 94 and 95 respectively. As will be discussed more fully below, each adjuster mechanism 104, 105 includes a connector, such as shown at 108 in connection with adjuster mechanism 104, that is secured to a web or shaping member 110 provided on an inner surface (not separately labeled) of cover 90. As clearly shown, web member 110 engages cover 90. In this fashion, web member 110 translates extension and retraction movements of adjuster mechanism 104 to cover 90, while also aiding in establishing a desired shape of at least part of cheek portion 19. Like web member 80 discussed above, web member 110 can take various forms without departing from the invention.

As noted above, each cover 60, 61, 90 and 91 is pivotally mounted to main body portion 4 through corresponding hinge members 68, 69, 98 and 99. As each hinge member 68, 69, 98 and 99 can be identically constructed, a detailed description will be made with reference to hinge member 68 with an understanding that the remaining hinge members 69, 98 and 99 are similarly constructed. As best shown in FIG. 5, hinge member 68 includes a first portion 122 pivotally connected to a second portion 123 through a joint or hinge pin member 125. Hinge member 68 is further shown to include a spring element 128 that establishes a particular bias between first and second portions 122 and 123. Hinge member 68 is preferably employed to attach flexible cover 60 to main body portion 4 as shown in FIG. 3. Towards that end, hinge member 68 is provided with a plurality of mechanical fasteners, one of which is indicated at 132. Of course, a wide variety of mechanical fasteners, such as rivets, snaps and the like, could also be employed to join hinge member 68 to body form 2.

As discussed above, each breast portion 12, 13 and each cheek portion 19, 20 is selectively adjustable to achieve a desired shape through selective positioning of corresponding adjuster mechanisms 75, 76 and 104, 105. In order to ensure symmetry, each adjuster mechanism 75, 76 and 104, 105 is preferably identical in construction. Therefore, a detailed description will be made with regard to adjuster mechanism 75 with an understanding that the remaining adjuster mechanisms 76, 104 and 105 are similarly formed.

As best shown in FIG. 6, adjuster mechanism 75 includes a first section 145 having first and second opposing side walls 146 and 147, a bottom wall 149 and a top wall that is defined by first and second flange members 152 and 153. First and second flange members 152 and 153 extend from respective ones of opposing side walls 146 and 147, thereby collectively defining a generally C-shaped channel 157. First section 145 also includes at least one slot 163 arranged within side wall 146. Slot 163 includes a plurality of scallops or notches 164 that define a corresponding plurality of fixed positions for adjuster mechanism 75. Of course it should be readily understood that notches are but one mechanism for establishing a plurality of fixed positions. Other mechanisms, such as spaced openings having various geometric shapes, indentations and the like, could also be employed.

Adjuster mechanism 75 further includes a second section 170 having first and second opposing side walls 172 and 173 to connect opposing top and bottom walls 174 and 175 so as to define a generally rectangular cross-section. In accordance with the invention, second section 170 is slidingly received by C-shaped channel 157 and includes a pin 186 provided on side wall 172. Pin 186 extends through slot 163 and is selectively positioned in one of the plurality of notches 164. In addition, second section 170 is shown to support, at a terminal end thereof, connector 78. With this construction, connector 78 is attached to web member 80 and urged against the inside surface of cover 60 to establish the desired shape, with pin 186 locking into the select one of the plurality of notches 164 to ensure that the desired shape is maintained.

At this point, reference will be made to FIG. 3 in describing a preferred method of adjusting breast portion 12. It should, however, be understood that the adjustments for breast portion 13, as well as cheek portions 19 and 20, can be performed in a similar manner. In order to adjust breast portion 12, flap portion 70 is defected to provide access to opening 64 and expose adjuster mechanism 75. At this point, a user can grasp second section 170 and dislodge pin 186 from one of the plurality of notches 164. Second section 170 is then repositioned to establish the desired shape for breast section 13. Once the desired size and/or shape is achieved, pin 186 is nested into the nearest one of the plurality of notches 164 to lock the shape in place. As second section 170 is repositioned, connector 80 abuts the inside surface of cover 60 and essentially moves with web member 60 when establishing the desired shape. That is, as the shape is formed, adjuster mechanism 75 pivots relative to cross member 30 to ensure that the desired shape is natural in appearance. As cover 60 is formed from a semi-rigid, yet flexible material, breast section 13 takes on a natural appearance that is maintained even when covered by clothing, such as brassieres, blouses, dresses and the like.

Based on the above, it should be readily apparent that the present invention enables specific, limited regions of the overall body form to be selectively adjusted in size and shape. This arrangement is quite distinct from, for example, providing a body form of two halves, quarters or the like, wherein the entire body form must be altered for a size change to occur. That is, the invention enables the majority of a body form to remain intact, while only breast and/or buttocks portions are readily altered in size and shape through respective adjuster mechanisms formed as part of the overall body form. In this regard, it should be realized that the particular form of the adjustment mechanism(s) can vary and that only the preferred embodiment of a telescoping adjuster system has been disclosed. Therefore, the adjuster mechanisms can be structured to perform the necessary adjustment function in various ways, including mechanically, pneumatically, hydraulically, electrically or the like. In addition, the structure of the cover members and their respective connections with the remainder of the body form can also vary. For example, the cover members need not be pivotally mounted and/or biased as disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiment. For instance, the cover members could be defined by breast and/or buttocks cap members that can be shifted relative to the remainder of the main body of the body form to selectively alter the size and shape of the specific body regions. Basically, although described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. Instead, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims. 

1. A body form having selectively configurable body sections comprising: a frame member; a main body supported by the frame member, said main body having a breast section including first and second breast portions, with the first and second breast portions including first and second cover members which establish frontal sections of the first and second breast portions respectively; and at least one adjuster mechanism supported by the frame member and connected to the first and second cover members for shifting the first and second cover members relative to a remainder of the main body in order to selectively alter a size and shape of the breast section.
 2. The body form according to claim 1, wherein the first and second breast portions include first and second frontal openings, said first and second cover members extending across and covering the first and second frontal openings respectively.
 3. The body form according to claim 2, wherein the first and second frontal openings expose an interior of the main body, said at least one adjuster mechanism being positioned in the interior.
 4. The body form according to claim 3, wherein the at least one adjuster mechanism includes a first end connected to the frame member and a second end engaging at least one of the first and second cover members.
 5. The body form according to claim 4, wherein the at least one adjuster mechanism includes first and second adjuster mechanisms for shifting the first and second cover members respectively.
 6. The body form according to claim 5, wherein each of the first and second adjuster mechanisms includes first and second sections, with said first section being connected to the frame member and said second section abutting a corresponding one of the first and second covers members.
 7. The body form according to claim 2, wherein each of the first and second cover members are pivotally mounted for movement relative to the remainder of the main body.
 8. The body form according to claim 7, wherein each of the first and second cover members includes a flap portion that extends into a respective one of the first and second frontal openings.
 9. The body form according to claim 7, further comprising: first and second hinge members pivotally connecting the first and second cover members to the remainder of the main body.
 10. The body form according to claim 1, further comprising: first and second web members, each of the first and second web members engaging an inner surface of respective one of the first and second cover members.
 11. The body form according to claim 10, wherein each of the first and second web members is interposed between the at least one adjuster mechanism and a respective one of the first and second cover members.
 12. The body form according to claim 1, wherein the at least one adjuster mechanism includes first and second telescoping sections.
 13. The body form according to claim 12, wherein the first telescoping section includes a slot having formed therein a plurality of notches that establish a plurality of fixed extension positions for the at least one adjuster mechanism.
 14. The body form according to claim 1, wherein the main body further includes a buttocks section having first and second cheek portions, with the first and second cheek portions including at least one additional cover member which establishes exposed portions of the first and second cheek portions, said body form further comprising at least one additional adjuster mechanism supported by the frame member and connected to the at least one additional cover member for shifting the at least one additional cover member relative to the remainder of the main body in order to selectively alter a size and shape of the buttocks section.
 15. The body form according to claim 14, wherein the at least one additional cover member extends across and covers at least one additional opening of the buttocks section.
 16. A body form having selectively configurable body sections comprising: a frame member; a main body supported by the frame member, said main body having a breast section including first and second breast portions, with the first and second breast portions including first and second cover members which establish frontal sections of the first and second breast portions respectively; and means for shifting the first and second cover members relative to a remainder of the main body in order to selectively alter a size and shape of the breast section.
 17. The body form according to claim 16, wherein the main body further includes a buttocks section having first and second cheek portions, with the first and second cheek portions including at least one additional cover member which establishes exposed portions of the first and second cheek portions, said body form further comprising an additional adjuster means for shifting the at least one additional cover member relative to the remainder of the main body in order to selectively alter a size and shape of the buttocks section.
 18. A method of selectively adjusting configurable body sections of a body form having a main body including breast and buttocks sections comprising: repositioning at least one adjuster mechanism to shift cover members extending across frontal openings of first and second breast portions of the breast section relative to a remainder of the main body to selectively alter a size and shape of the breast section; and repositioning at least one additional adjuster mechanism to shift at least one additional cover member extending across at least one additional opening of the buttocks section relative to the remainder of the main body to selectively alter a size and shape of the buttocks section.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: pivoting the first and second cover members relative to the remainder of the main body to selectively alter the size and shape of the breast section; and pivoting the at least one additional cover member relative to the remainder of the main body to selectively alter the size and shape of the buttocks section. 